Central Library architect John Madin has had his legacy in Birmingham protected – thanks to an office block he created after World War II.

Just weeks before bulldozers tear down his brutalist designs in Paradise Circus, the Secretary Madin’s St James’ House, on Frederick Road, in Edgbaston, has achieved Grade II listed status.

It is among 14 post-war office buildings to achieve Grade II listed status across the country.

The city’s iconic Alpha Tower, designed by Birmingham-born architect George Marsh, has also been given protection from change or demolition by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

The awards recognise the work of leading modern architects following a project by English Heritage to assess commercial buildings between 1964 and 1984.

English Heritage previously called for Madin’s Central Library to be listed, but its fate was all but sealed in 2009 after then architecture minister Margaret Hodge decided not to grant the status.

It also attracted criticism from Prince Charles as “looking more like a place for burning books, than keeping them”.

The Chamberlain Square facility ceased to function as a library last year, following the opening of the £189 million Library of Birmingham.

It is being demolished to make way for the £500 million Paradise Circus regeneration scheme, set to take 11 years and drastically reshape the area.

The Central Library is not the only Birmingham landmark created by Madin – described as the man who built Birmingham – to have bitten the dust.

His designs at Pebble Mill, the Post amp; Mail tower on Colmore Circus and the AEU building by Pagoda Island on Smallbrook Queensway have all been demolished over the years.

But St James’ House listing will ensure the architect, who died in 2012, has at least one lasting contribution to the cityscape.

St James’ House was completed in 1957 for the Allied Employer’s Federation and paved the way for the award-winning architect’s later work. English Heritage have credited Madin for taking great care with the “bold, modern exterior” and a layout designed to “forge constructive relations between employers and their workforce”.

Deborah Williams, designation team leader for English Heritage in the west said: “George Marsh’s powerful and elegant Alpha Tower has become one of Birmingham’s iconic landmarks and Madin’s thoughtfully considered St James’ House, with its strong design, careful detailing and clever interior perfectly reflected the particular needs of his client.

“Both these special buildings fully deserve to be listed at Grade II.”

Grade II listed buildings are nationally important and while the status does not prevent change it means special consent must be gained to make alterations.

Other buildings to receive the status include Brown Shipley and 30 Cannon Street in London, Gun Wharf in Chatham and Mountbatten House in Basingstoke.

Heritage Minister, Ed Vaizey, said: “Listed buildings are not just about historic houses and ancient monuments, they also serve to protect our recent heritage and preserve the best examples of our fantastic architecture. This group of listings reflect the changing face of our working environment and represent the very best in design and it’s entirely right that they be listed Grade II.”